Device for holding food products and the like



Aug. 23, 1949. J. H. PRITCHARD DEVICE FOR HOLDING FOOD PRODUCTS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 13, 1945 HTfOE/VEV Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR HOLDING FOOD PRODUCTS AND THE LIKE Joseph H. Pritchard, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 13, 1945, Serial No. 610,567

'lClaims. (Cl. 229-54) This invention relates to a holder for carrying and supporting various articles, such as articles of food, particularly sandwiches, potato chips, and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device adapted to serve as a carrier for such articles, and which further is adapted to hold or support them in a convenient manner when they are to be eaten.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a device which is adapted optionally to be supported by resting on a table, seat or other surface or by being hung from a convenient support. Y

For example, the desire a light lunch, either to be eaten while driving or while the car is parked. The present device is particularly useful for this purpose, as it may be used to carry, and later to hold, articles of food in a convenient and accessible manner to be eaten, and without danger of soiling the car or contaminating the food. Thus, the device may rest on the seat beside the driver, or it may be suspended within easy reach from a suitable support.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a device which is durable, inexpensive to make, and which may be readily fabricated from commonly available materials. I

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For thispurpose there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a pictorial view showing the device in use;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the device, seen as indicated by the arrow marked 2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a development of one element of the device;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken as indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a view showing another element of the device.

Referring to the drawing,'the holder is generally indicated by I and comprises a main or supporting element 2 or generally rectangular driver of .an automobile may 2 configuration as shown in Figure 5, and formed of some relatively stiff and light material. This material may be metal or some type of board, preferably corrugated cardboard.

A pocket forming member 3 of flexible material as fabric or paper, is attached to one face of the element '2 so as to flex along a line 4 spaced from the lower end of the element 2. The memher 3 provides an upwardly opening pocket 5, formed in a manner to be presently described. By resting the holder I on a generally horizontal surface, and inclining the member 3 and the element toward each other at a slight angle, they become mutually supporting to hold the pocket 5 upright to accommodate and support a desired article, which may be inserted and removed as desired.

The holder I is arranged to be supported optionally from above by suspension from a suitable support. For this purpose, the element 2 may be provided with a hook 6, secured thereto in any desired manner or formed integrally therewith. The holder I may be provided additionally with a through aperture 1 for the same purpose.

It is preferred that a member 3--a similar to the member 3 be provided on the opposite face of the element 2, as in that way a pair of pockets 5 and 5a are provided, increasing the utility of the device as well as causing it to stand upright more firmly. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the element 2 is somewhat shorter below the line 4 than are the members 3 and 3--a, so that the element 2 will contact the supporting surface ID in a manner to limit the separation of the lower edges of the members 3 and 3-a when they rest on the surface II]. In this way, the inclination of the members 3 and 3-11 is restricted, the members cooperating to support each other and the element 2 in an upright position with the pockets 5 and 5a opening upwardly,

As shown in Figure 3, the members 3 and 3--a may be formed as two halves of a single piece of appropriate material II adapted to be folded about a medial line I! to form the two members. If a device having but one pocket is wanted, one half of the piece II will be required. Each half of the piece II has a portion Ila conforming to the configuration of the element 2 and an extension l l--b adapted to be folded about the line llc to form the pocket 5 or 5a. The extension II-b is wider than the portion Ila to permit folding as indicated by the broken lines I l-d for fastening to the edges of the body portion II--a. Further, the edges of the extension "-2: are flared to provide the necessary fullness between the portions ll-a. The upper part of each portion is then secured by appropriate adhesive or other means, leaving the portions free to flex about the lines 4 and 4a.

The use of the device I should be obvious. If it is to rest on a surface as iii, the members 3 and 3-a are spread as shown by the full lines in Figure 2, so that the device is firmly supported. Articles may then be inserted and removed from the pockets 5 and 5a as desired. If preferred, the device i may be hung either by engaging the hook B or the opening I with a suitable support, as a bar or a projection. In this case, the members 3 and 3-1: will hang down in the dotted line position of Figure 2.

The device will perhaps be most useful as a carrier as well as a supporting holder, particularly for lunches. For example, a sandwich, a piece of cake or the like may be inserted in each pocket and carried about as desired. When the lunch is to be eaten, the device is used as a support in the manner described.

I claim:

1. In a holder, a rigid element, and pocket providing members flexibly secured respectively to the opposite sides of said element above the lower end thereof, said members extending beyond the lower end of the element, and being adapted by opposite inclination to mutually support each other and said element in an upright position on a supporting surface.

2. In a holder, a rigid element, pocket providing members flexibly secured respectively to the opposite sides of said element above the lower end thereof, said members extending beyond the lower end of the element, and being adapted by opposite inclination to mutually support each other and said element in an upright position on a, supporting surface, and means for optionally suspending said holder from above.

3. In a holder, a rigid element, means providing a pair of members, each having a portion substantially coextensive with said element as.

well as a portion extending beyond the lower edge of said element, and adapted to be folded along a line parallel to said edge and secured along the opposite side edges of the member to form a pocket, and means securing said members respectively to the opposite faces of said element to flex along a line spaced from said edge.

4. In a holder, a rigid element, means providing a pair of members, each having a portion substantially coextensive with said element as well as a portion extending beyond the lower edge opposite sides of of said element, and adapted to be folded along a line parallel to said edge and secured along the opposite side edges of the member to form a pocket, means securing said members respectively to the opposite faces of said element to flex along a line spaced from said edge, and means on said element adapted to suspend said holder.

5. In a holder, a flat rigid element having an upper and a lower edge, a flat member folded over said upper edge and depending from said edge on each side of said element, said member having pockets thereon disposed on each side of said element, and means securing the upper portion of said member to said element to permit the bottom portions of said member on each side of said element to be inclined away from said element, the length of said bottom portions being greater than the length of said element below said upper portions, whereby said members form a pair of opposed, inclined suppiorting means for maintaining said element upr ght.

6. In a holder: a flat rigid element; a pair of pocket forming members flexibly secured tothe the upper portion of said element, the length of said members below the area of attachment exceeding the length of said element below said area, whereby said holder is adapted to rest on a flat surface with the lower edges of said members and said element in spaced relation thereon, said members being oppositely inclined toward said element and cooperating to support each other and said element in an upright position.

7. In a holder: a flat rigid element; a pair of pocket forming members having flexible upper portions respectively secured to the opposite sides of the upper portion of said element, the length of said members below the area of attachment exceeding the length of said element below said area, whereby said holder is adapted to rest on a flat surface with the lower edges of said members and said element in spaced relation thereon, said members being oppositely inclined toward said element and cooperating to support each other and said element in an upright position.

JOSEPH H. PRIICHARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

